Emily
Ratajkowski

Emily told treatsmagazine.com, “I feel like people always assume I’m Brazilian and that I’m letting them down when I tell them I’m not. I’m really just a big mix, mostly Eastern European and Mediterranean.” She added in a later interview with mensfitness.com that she was “Polish Israeli.”

Emily Ratajkowski’s father is a painter. She said, “Growing up in an artistic environment I always loved photography. Also, traveling to Europe…I’d see beautiful topless women walking around the beaches…fashion photography is the perfect combination of art and femininity. I find it empowering to be the muse of an image.”

While she was born on the East Coast, Emily was raised in Southern California. Her favorite city, however, is New York City and she considers herself a “total foodie.” She loves Vietnamese food, Thai food, “I love anything that’s experimental and a little different – mixes of a couple different cuisines are really fun for me.”

When asked if on a date, a guy gets a juicy burger all over the place, she said, “There’s love in my eyes! In Southern California I grew up eating street tacos and burritos on the beach…I’m the messiest eater you’ll ever meet. I’ve been on dates where guys don’t think I’m going to eat as much as them, and soon I’m reaching for their plate.”

Emily said her guilty pleasure is “dark chocolate – I’m addicted.” And her dream gig is “to shoot with Mario Testino.” Her style secret is “confidence – know your body and dress like yourself, no one else.” And the best freebie she ever got from a gig was “a trip to Puerto Rico – traveling beats clothes!”

Emily Ratajkowski’s ad with Sara Underwood for Carl’s Jr. was actually cut by 30 seconds because it was deemed too racy for TV. The full ad can only be seen on the Internet. Emily said of the shoot, “I wanted to be in a Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s commercial since I was a little girl watching Paris Hilton. I thought it was so sexy and really iconic, so it’s a really big honor to be part of one.”

When not traveling for work, Emily Ratajkowski lives in Los Angeles, California.